Cascara Sagrada / Magnesium Hydroxide News

-- Laxatives can have unpleasant side effects, especially when overused. The American Academy of Family Physicians says possible problems associated with laxative use include: Abdominal cramps or nausea. Gas, diarrhea or bloating. Electrolyte imbalance, which can affect the muscles, nerves and organs. Those most at risk include children and people with kidney disease or diabetes. Muscle weakness or muscle spasms. Fatigue, confusion, headache or vomiting. Read more

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 – A new study suggests that the type of laxative a person takes might be a factor in their odds for colon cancer. The research indicates that fiber-based laxatives are associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer, while non-fiber laxatives are linked with a higher risk. The study could only show an association between laxative types and colon cancer risk, it could not prove cause-and-effect, and experts stress that more study is needed. Still, the researchers believe the findings are important because about 20 percent of Americans use laxatives. According to a team led by Jessica Citronberg, a predoctoral fellow at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, non-fiber laxatives are the most widely used in the United States and work by forcing the colon to contract. On the other hand, fiber-based laxatives boost the water content and bulk of the stool ... Read more

MONDAY, Jan. 28 – Some treatments are more effective than others for relieving constipation in seniors, according to a new review. And laxatives aren't always enough, researchers say. Constipation is common in seniors and can have serious health consequences and affect quality of life. Excessive straining in frail elderly people can cause them to faint and put them at risk of injury or falling, or restrict blood flow to the heart and brain. Chronic constipation can lead to fecal impaction, a large lump of hard stool that remains stuck in the rectum. Fecal impaction can cause nausea, pain and loss of appetite. "Given the growing proportion of older adults in North America, effective management of constipation by health care professionals will be increasingly necessary," Dr. Dov Gandell, of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, and colleagues wrote in an article appearing Jan. 28 ... Read more

-- Laxatives are medications usually purchased over-the-counter to help treat constipation. The American Academy of Family Physicians says side effects are rare if laxatives are taken as their labels direct, but sometimes they can trigger: Diarrhea. Nausea. Cramps. Gas. Bloating. Read more